Assessment by Ames Test and Comet Assay of Toxicity Potential of Polymers Used to Develop a Field Capable Biosensor

Authors:

A. Hebert, S. Torosian, K. Gleason

Affilation:

Food and Drug Adminstration, US

Pages:

242 - 245

Keywords:

biosensors, toxicity, PEDOT

Abstract:

Current methods of detecting food-borne pathogens take days to show and confirm results. There is a need for devices that decrease detection time. A field-capable rapid-detection device is being developed and in this study it is assessed for potential cytotoxicity. The device is comprised of melt-spun polypropylene coupons which have been coated with the chemicals 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and 3-Thiopheneethanol (3-TE ). The chemicals were coated on the surface of the microfibers via oxidative Chemical Vapor Deposition (oCVD). The process creates a conductive conformal layer that is 100-300nm thick. After deposition, the membranes were doped with sulfuric acid which increases conductivity, makes them more stable and gives higher sensitivity. Some investigators looked at cell viability using phosphate buffered saline or polystyrene sulfonate for dopant exchange. None of these studies demonstrated significant change in viability. However, there are more subtle long range effects that do not overtly express as loss of viability but may have effects via long-term exposure.The Ames Test and Comet Assay have been used in this study to examine the potentials of EDOT, 3-TE, and the polymerized EDOT-co-3TE. The assays conducted in this study provide evidence that the polymerized co-polymer is non-toxic to humans.